Cardiff went back to the top of Super Rygbi Cymru after seeing off a determined Bridgend Ravens side on Saturday afternoon at the Dunraven Brewery Field.

The Blue & Blacks had just enough to see off Scott Baldwin’s side who kept their visitors guessing until the last minutes in an exciting league encounter played before a healthy crowd in some glorious early spring sunshine.

Cardiff started superbly and crossed within the opening two minutes with a try from Elijah Evans. The Wales u20 midfielder cut a superb line to get his side off to the perfect start. Harri Wilde put the conversion wide.

Bridgend struck back soon after to take the lead for the first time. Wing Jake Thomas made a lightning break from an Edd Howley pass and after some patience from the forwards, James Owen got his first try in blue and white. Lloyd Wilkins converted.

The lead didn’t last long though as Cardiff wing Joe Goodchild was on the end of a sweeping move to put the capital side back ahead. Wilde’s conversion again was missed.

Bridgend lost Tommy Morgan to injury midway through the second half with Ben Burnell, making his first appearance of 2025, slotting into midfield as a direct replacement.

As Cardiff took a stranglehold on territory, Alfie Llewellyn was yellow carded and the extra man told soon after as Cardiff scored out wide through Matty Young. The Ravens were able to see the rest of the yellow card period out without damage but headed into the interval 8 points adrift.

HT Bridgend 7-15 Cardiff

The opening exchanges of the second half belonged to Bridgend, and after 10 minutes they were back within touching distance on the scoreboard. Bridgend made meters through Jake Thomas who was illegally halted by the covering Cardiff defence from a high tackle. Playing advantage, Mccauley Rowley’s neat outside break was halted by the covering Cardiff defence but he was able to get the ball away to the supporting Cameron Ellis to score. Wilkins kicked a superb touchline conversion.

Cardiff upped the tempo from the restart resulting in a nicely worked try for scrum half Ethan Lloyd. The simple conversion was added by Wilde to extend Cardiff’s advantage again.

With the game heading towards the final quarter, Ben Burnell’s final pass was adjudged to have gone forward by referee Mike English denying Jake Thomas a simple run in near the posts. It wasn’t to be and Cardiff calmly cleared their lines from the resulting scrum.

With time running out and Bridgend chasing a vital losing bonus point, Cardiff edged further ahead to secure their extra point with a converted try from Aled Ward.

That was almost the final play, with Bridgend heading to Carmarthen Quins next time out in a huge match in the battle for the top 6.